Automating Log Cleanup: Joomla's Scheduled Task for Cookie Policy Notification Bar

Overview

Joomla’s Scheduled Tasks feature, introduced in Joomla 4, provides administrators with the ability to automate routine tasks directly within the Joomla CMS. This guide details the process of creating and managing a scheduled task specifically designed for deleting logs generated by the Cookie Policy Notification Bar plugin. This functionality is available starting from version 4.3.3 of the plugin.

Prerequisites

• Ensure that you have Joomla version 4 or higher installed.
• Ensure that you have version 4.3.3 or later of the Cookie Policy Notification Bar Joomla! plugin installed to access this feature.

Step 1: Accessing Scheduled Tasks

To begin, navigate to the System Dashboard of your Joomla site. From there, locate the 'Scheduled Tasks' option within the 'Manage' section of the sidebar menu. Click on 'Scheduled Tasks' to view and manage all scheduled tasks for your site.

Step 2: Creating a New Task

Once in the Scheduled Tasks interface, click the ‘+ New’ button at the top left to create a new scheduled task.

Step 3: Selecting a Task Type

You will be presented with a list of available task types. Select 'Delete Cookie Policy Notification Bar Logs' to set up a task that periodically deletes logs generated by the Cookie Policy Notification Bar plugin.

Step 4: Configuring the Task

Fill in the necessary details for the task:

• Title: Provide a meaningful name for the task, like "Delete Cookie Policy Notification Bar Logs (every 90 days)".
• Execution Rule: Set the frequency of task execution, e.g., 'Interval, Months'.
• Interval in Months: Enter the number of months between each task execution.
• Execution Day: Specify the day of the month the task should run.
• Execution Time (UTC): Set the time at which the task should be triggered.
• Days to delete logs after: Define how many days after creation logs should be deleted.

Ensure the status is set to 'Enabled' to activate the task once saved.

Saving the Task

Remember to save the task to ensure that all changes are applied and that the task will be executed according to the schedule you have configured. Use the ‘Save’ or ‘Save & Close’ buttons at the top left to commit your settings.

Step 5: Running and Testing the Task

After configuring the task, you can run an immediate test by clicking the ‘Run Test’ button corresponding to the task. This helps ensure that the task performs as expected before it goes into its scheduled routine.

Review the execution history to confirm that the task completed successfully.

Summary

The Scheduled Tasks feature in Joomla is a powerful tool for automating maintenance operations like log cleanup. Through this interface, you can ensure that your website remains clean, efficient, and compliant with data retention policies. Always test new tasks to verify their functionality before they go live.